National Prayer Breakfast & Noble Hypocrisy

Thursday was the National Prayer Breakfast here in Washington DC. Donald Trump made news by sarcastically urging prayer for better ratings for Arnold Schwarzenegger. But otherwise it was as usual, across over 60 years, since founded by a savvy Norwegian born Methodist clergyman who also created Goodwill Industries. Several thousand people from around the world ate scrambled eggs and networked at the Washington Hilton (where Reagan was shot in 1981 attending another event). There is always an inspirational main address, this year by the U.S. Senate Chaplain. A Democratic and a Republican senator jointly emceed, with representatives and senators alternating year by year.

They pray for the country and each other while often sharing personal spiritual testimonies. There’s always lots of noble talk, and typically lots of preening, self-serving hypocrisy. Conservative commentator William Kristol tweeted: “I’ve never been a fan of the Prayer Breakfast, knowing perhaps too well the insincerity of the piety of some of the conspicuous prayers.” And he added: “Today’s farcical events would give the organizers a good reason to end it, with a statement encouraging real prayer rather than fake piety.”

Well, yes, he’s right about “fake piety,” which is present for any event with the famous, powerful, and rich amid lots of cameras. But I hope the tradition continues for many decades, even centuries. First of all, it’s not all fakery. Lots of sincerely devout people attend, and even the less devout can have moments of genuine faith. (I’ve attended a couple times and once sat next to a reputed Russian billionaire likely chagrined to be confined to a satellite hotel meeting space instead of the main ballroom.) Secondly, fake piety can be useful for any society.

There’s the famous saying from the 17th century nobleman: Hypocrisy is the homage vice pays to virtue. Fake piety, to the extent present, at least acknowledges however self-servingly a larger transcendent moral and spiritual order beyond self-will. A lofty fake piety understands that religion creates community and is leaven for society.

Thomas Jefferson was and is assailed for his lack of at least orthodox piety. But he good-naturedly attended and supported churches throughout his long life. There is a popular story, too good not to be true, that once as president he was walking to church services at the U.S. Capitol, presumably down Pennsylvania Avenue:

“…with his large red prayer book under his arm when a friend querying him after their mutual good morning said which way are you walking Mr. Jefferson. To which he replied to Church Sir. You going to church Mr. J. You do not believe a word in it. Sir said Mr. J. No nation has ever yet existed or been governed without religion. Nor can be. The Christian religion is the best religion that has been given to man and I as chief Magistrate of this nation am bound to give it the sanction of my example. Good morning Sir.”

Likely Jefferson would have convivially attended the National Prayer Breakfast, as all presidents since Eisenhower have, obligingly bowing his head in reverence, sincerely in his remarks extolling God as the architect of the universe, maybe adding a few subtle jibes at favorite political foes, and uncomplainingly mixing with assorted saints and sinners.

There are many countries that could not convene a National Prayer Breakfast without it erupting into a riot or at least an intense theological/political brawl. But we can celebrate in America that the worst likely to happen is smiling, pleasant hypocrisy, paying homage to a Deity who exists and governs with or without sincere tribute.